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Austin won’t challenge commercial tax appraisals

Austin won’t challenge commercial tax appraisals

The Austin City Council decided early Friday not to challenge the tax appraisals for commercial properties, instead opting to gear up for a challenge next year.

With a June 17 deadline looming to file a challenge with the Travis Central Appraisal District, council members said there simply isn’t time to compile the detailed evidence needed to mount a successful challenge.

The City Council did agree to will start hiring experts who can gather information on undervalued commercial properties to challenge those appraisals in 2015.

“We are not backing off; we are still moving forward,” said Council Member Kathie Tovo, who had proposed a challenge then suggested waiting on Friday.

Travis County commissioners also weighed but decided against an appraisal challenge earlier this week, opting to study the issue further.

The City Council did unanimously agree to lobby for legisation about public disclosure of real estate sales prices at the state Capitol, saying that would help appraisers more accurately determine values.

Tovo had proposed a third reform: to develop a policy that would require companies that seek tax incentives from Austin to agree to not protest their property appraisals later. That passed 5-2, with Council Member Bill Spelman and Mayor Lee Leffingwell voting no.